YOWetal
Aug 15, 2008, 3:42 PM
I have always wondered why Ottawa puts up with this. The claim that Ottawa benefits is dubious. If they are threatening to cancel the busses, the end result would only be people moving to Ottawa.
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Bédard wants idling Gatineau buses banned
Councillor 'fed up' with scores of STO vehicles polluting streets in Lowertown
Patrick Dare, The Ottawa Citizen
The City of Gatineau may have to take its buses that wait in Ottawa's Lowertown off the streets because of complaints about pollution, noise and congestion caused by the vehicles.
Rideau-Vanier Councillor Georges Bédard will next week ask the city's transportation committee to ban idling buses from Lowertown, specifically King Edward Avenue, George Street and York Street, after many years of complaints about the pollution problem.
Mr. Bédard said for years Gatineau officials have suggested something will be done to end the practice, but it just continues.
"I'm just fed up. We've tried absolutely everything. There's always some excuse for not doing it," said Mr. Bédard.
The councillor said he knows his move will upset some people across the Ottawa River, saying, "They're obviously not pleased."
But he said there are 100 buses from the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) that are coming into Lowertown's residential streets each day, idling for 15 or 20 minutes before taking off to pick up passengers and head back across the river.
During extreme cold and warm weather, the city's anti-idling bylaw doesn't apply and Lowertown residents simply have to put up with it.
Mr. Bédard said people in new residential buildings find they can't use their balconies because of the noxious fumes.
"Those poor people are suffering from constant pollution," said Mr. Bédard.
The report going to city council's transportation committee says: "Residents, nursery school children, theatre patrons and business operators are directly exposed to dangerously high levels of toxic emissions from diesel engines that are almost constantly idling."
Residents of Lowertown have been complaining about the pollution and congestion issue since the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge was built in the 1960s and heavy bus, truck and car traffic started clogging King Edward Avenue, which was once a beautiful federal ceremonial route. Regional government in Ottawa tried to improve the situation in 1991, but made little progress.
Mr. Bédard wants STO buses to be banned from parking on King Edward, George Street and York Street, and he wants the STO to use a new bus lay-by area recently built under the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge for at least some of the vehicles. City of Ottawa staff agree with the request to have STO buses use the new lay-by area but they don't support the councillor on banning idling buses from Lowertown. The city's staff say such a move could increase costs for the STO and would make it more difficult to run the service between Gatineau and Ottawa.
Céline Gauthier, spokeswoman for the STO, said Gatineau transit officials are well aware of the problem and that, starting on Sept. 1, the new lay-by under the bridge will be used on 49 bus trips a day. She said a facility on the Quebec side to accommodate buses that are waiting to make their runs has been planned but that approval must be won from the Quebec government.
"It's something that we have been working on. It's a work in progress," said Ms. Gauthier.
She noted that the STO's service into Ottawa is important for Ottawa's economy since the buses carry about 12,000 people a day in and out of the city.
ILLUS: Photo: Pat McGrath, The Ottawa Citizen / Councillor Georges Bédard says about 100 buses from the STO come into Lowertown each day and idle for 15 or 20 minutes before taking off to pick up passengers to take back across the river. ;
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Bédard wants idling Gatineau buses banned
Councillor 'fed up' with scores of STO vehicles polluting streets in Lowertown
Patrick Dare, The Ottawa Citizen
The City of Gatineau may have to take its buses that wait in Ottawa's Lowertown off the streets because of complaints about pollution, noise and congestion caused by the vehicles.
Rideau-Vanier Councillor Georges Bédard will next week ask the city's transportation committee to ban idling buses from Lowertown, specifically King Edward Avenue, George Street and York Street, after many years of complaints about the pollution problem.
Mr. Bédard said for years Gatineau officials have suggested something will be done to end the practice, but it just continues.
"I'm just fed up. We've tried absolutely everything. There's always some excuse for not doing it," said Mr. Bédard.
The councillor said he knows his move will upset some people across the Ottawa River, saying, "They're obviously not pleased."
But he said there are 100 buses from the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) that are coming into Lowertown's residential streets each day, idling for 15 or 20 minutes before taking off to pick up passengers and head back across the river.
During extreme cold and warm weather, the city's anti-idling bylaw doesn't apply and Lowertown residents simply have to put up with it.
Mr. Bédard said people in new residential buildings find they can't use their balconies because of the noxious fumes.
"Those poor people are suffering from constant pollution," said Mr. Bédard.
The report going to city council's transportation committee says: "Residents, nursery school children, theatre patrons and business operators are directly exposed to dangerously high levels of toxic emissions from diesel engines that are almost constantly idling."
Residents of Lowertown have been complaining about the pollution and congestion issue since the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge was built in the 1960s and heavy bus, truck and car traffic started clogging King Edward Avenue, which was once a beautiful federal ceremonial route. Regional government in Ottawa tried to improve the situation in 1991, but made little progress.
Mr. Bédard wants STO buses to be banned from parking on King Edward, George Street and York Street, and he wants the STO to use a new bus lay-by area recently built under the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge for at least some of the vehicles. City of Ottawa staff agree with the request to have STO buses use the new lay-by area but they don't support the councillor on banning idling buses from Lowertown. The city's staff say such a move could increase costs for the STO and would make it more difficult to run the service between Gatineau and Ottawa.
Céline Gauthier, spokeswoman for the STO, said Gatineau transit officials are well aware of the problem and that, starting on Sept. 1, the new lay-by under the bridge will be used on 49 bus trips a day. She said a facility on the Quebec side to accommodate buses that are waiting to make their runs has been planned but that approval must be won from the Quebec government.
"It's something that we have been working on. It's a work in progress," said Ms. Gauthier.
She noted that the STO's service into Ottawa is important for Ottawa's economy since the buses carry about 12,000 people a day in and out of the city.
ILLUS: Photo: Pat McGrath, The Ottawa Citizen / Councillor Georges Bédard says about 100 buses from the STO come into Lowertown each day and idle for 15 or 20 minutes before taking off to pick up passengers to take back across the river. ;
